Family history but negative genetic tests

Hi there 

Yes me  

Im the 6th person( that we know of , there could be more ) to have been diagnosed with BC , all on my mums side . We have all been diagnosed before age 50 and as far as we know we were all ER+ 
Genetic testing came back negative for us too but I just cannot believe that , but as you say they only test for certain genes . I was first tested in 2016 and have been  referred back to genetics now so maybe there will be further testing , I don’t know 

I was told TNBC cases within a family were more likely to have a genetic link than  hormone positive . They also said tbat because BC is “ common “ then sometimes it just happens ! 
Seems hard to believe though ! I’m worried for my children too 

Wishing your sister all the best for any upcoming treatments

L xx

I'm similar. A lot of breast cancer in the family but my genetic results came back negative to all genetic markers. 

Hi I had genetic testing because of family history of breast cancer at young age. I was negative for the genes that they currently test for. The geneticist said that it is not uncommon for BC to run through families but not linked to genetics. She said she would keep my blood samples and if new research finds links to new genes I would automatically be checked for it. I asked about my 19 year old daughter and what she should do. She will need to be screened from age 30 (which is more than I got even though I had family history and found at routine mammogram age 52).

My sister's were both eligible for mammogram at 40 instead of 50 because of me and my mum having it. When my sister went for tests on her lump, the mammogram was actually clear, and it was only found because they did an ultrasound too. She ended up going private for those because the Dr at the NHS breast clinic felt the lump and decided it felt like a cyst and said she's do a 3-4 month ultrasound referral! She said the enlarged lymph node would just be due to her having had a vaccination recently. I'm so glad my sister was in a position to get a second opinion. I will be asking my GP what all our kids may be eligible for, testing wise in the future. I have a boy, but both of my sisters have girls. Obviously men can get it too, but hopefully lower risk. All are young currently (ranging from age 5 to age 13)

Unfortunately because breast tissue is dense in younger women the mammogram can miss some lumps. I had dense breasts and was initially told I had calcification on one side and ductal on the other. After double mastectomy the calcifications were actually lobular. So I had ductal one side and lobular the other! I think you have to be proactive and arm your children with your full history so that they can approach their GP early.

Yes we definitely will do. I'm also hoping that over the next few years progress will be made on the potential cancer vaccines and immunotherapies which may mean they could maybe be protected better. 

It is just so crazily common in younger people. I have known so many people affected when younger

I gather it’s quite common! And breast cancer occurs in 1 in 8 women anyway, so maybe some breast cancer in family by chance. Any worried family members can be referred by the GP to genetics for advice and screening advice given to those deemed “at higher risk” of cancer.

there’s so much on the near horizon for breast cancer. There is every reason to be hopeful x